Transmission mechanism



Filed July 20, i922 ATTORNEYS.

Patent'ed Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. STARR, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0' PERFECTO GEAR DIF- FERENTIAL'CO., OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Application tiled .Tuly 20, 1922. Serial 110.576,26.

T 0 all 'whom 'may concern.'

Be it.l known that ll, CHARLES STARR,

. tion.

My invention relates to transmission mechanisms for motor driven vehicles, and particularlyto a transmission mechanism especially suitable for use with the combination transmission and dierential device which is the subject of my copending a plication, Serial Number 559,182, filed May 8, 1922.

Une of the objects ofthe invention is the provision of a speed change mechanism ca pable of providing two forward and one reverse speed and characterized by quietness in operation and by compactness and simplicity of construction. Another object of the invention is the provision of a speed cha-nge mechanism in which the gears are always in mesh, and the several combinations are secured by the engagement and release of two positive clutch members.l

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. llt is to be understoodthat ll do not limitv my.

self to the showing made by the said description, as l may adopt variant forms of my invention within the scope of the claims. llhe gure of the drawing is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally thru the transmission mechanism. f

y lln terms of broad inclusion, my transmission mechanism comprises alined driven and driving shafts with a planetary gear system interposed between the two shafts. The center gear of the planetary system is fixed tor rotation with the driving shaft, and either means are provided forconnectin the planetary gear mounting or t e ring gearof the system with a fixedl element which comprises a housing enclosing the entire mechanism, or for connecting either the planetary gear mounting or ring ear, or both together, with the driven s aft. When both ring gear and planet gear mounting are connected together for rotation with the driven shaft, the entire mechanism revolves as a unit at driving shaft or engine speed. When the planeugear mounting is held against rotation the planet gears4 act as jackshaft gears to drive the ring gear in reverse direction, the ring gear at this time being connectedfor rotation with the driven shaft. When the ring gear is held stationary the planet gear mounting is connected ,for rotation with the driven shaft, andthe planet gear planetates about the ring gear, driving the driven shaftv forwardly at low speed. A neutral point is provided in which there is no driving connection between the two shafts.

ln detail the transmission mechanism of my invention comprises a housing 2 adapted to be supported on the frame of the machine by erom members 3, one of which is shown at the right of the figure. Arranged in suitable bearings i are the alined driving shaft 6 vand driven shaft 7, each having its outer end suitably formed to t a universal coupling in accordance with well known prac? tice, the shaft 6 being connected to the engine shaft and the shaft 7 to the shaft extending to the drivingpinion in the rear axle housin Splined on the inner end of the driving shaft 6, is a center gear 8l having a hub 9,-which is bushed to provide a bearing vfor the reduced end 11 of the driven shaft 7, so that proper alinement is maintained 1 `Within the housing 2 and formed preferably integral therewith are bearing bridges or blocks l2 and 13, one on either side of the center gear 8. Journaled in these bearing bridges in suitable bearing bushings and disks, is a ring gear casing comprising two cup-like members 16 and 17, journaled respectively in the bridges 12 and 13, and carrying between them the ring gear18, to which they are secured by bolts 19.-

J'ournaled within the ring gear casing on suitable bearing bushings, and enclosing the center gearis the planet gear mountin or frame comprising the members 21 an 22 connected by studs 23, threaded into the member 22. An additional bearing bushing 24 is interposed between the gear mounting and the hub 9' to rovide additional stability and assurance of) proper alinement. Journaled on pins 26 held in the planet gear mounting b retaining rings 27 disposed on each side t ereof, are the planet arsf28, which are in mesh with both the ring gear 18 and the center gear 8 at all times. i

The outerend of the member 16 of the ring gear casing is provided with inwardly extending teeth `31 conveniently formed in the shape of gear teeth and comprising clutch members. Similarly inwardly projectin teeth 32 are4 formed on the member 21 of t e planet gear mounting. These clutch members are adapted to be engaged by complementary teeth 33, formed on the inner end of a sleeve 34, which is slidably mountedsin a ring 36rigidly held in the bridge 12 by means of Screws 37. Teeth 38 on the sleeve 34 in engagement with complementary teeth formed on the ring 36 prevent rotation of the sleeve 34 while permitting free longitudinal movement. Splined on the inner end of the driven shaft 7 is a similar sleeve 41 having wide teeth 42 formed thereon adapted to be engaged with complementary teeth 43 on the gear mounting member 22 and complementary teeth 44 on the ring gear casing member 17 A yoke 46 having arms engaged in an annular roove in the sleeve 41 is fixed on a rod 47 s idably arranged in the housing 2 and a similar arm 48 connects the rod 47 with the sleeve 34 so that the two sleeves are moved together as one, by movement of the rod 47.

The spacing and size of the various clutch members is illustrated in the drawing and is such that when the teeth 33 are in engagement with the teeth 31, the teeth 42 are in engagement with the teeth 43; and as the teeth 42 enter into engagement with the teeth 44, both teeth 31 and 32 are free of engagement with teeth 33, but when the teeth y 42 are out of engagement with teeth 43 and fully in engagement with vteeth 44, then teeth 33 are in engagement with teeth 32. When the teeth 42 are in full engagement with both teeth 43 and 44, teeth 31 and 32 are still free of teeth 33.

- The rod 47 is moved to effect the various combinations by means of a manually operated lever 5l pivotally mounted on the housing 2 and pivotall connected to the rod. The rod is provide with a series of notches 52 .adapted to be engaged. by a springpressed pin 53 so that the rod is resiliently held -in adjusted position. In the position of the parts shown in the figure the sleeves are in neutral position and rotation of the driving shaft 6 in the direction of the arrow will merely cause idling, in a reverse direction, of the ring gear 18. If the lever 51 is moved to slide the sleeves 34 and 4l one step to the left,'clutchlmembers 33 are engaged with clutch members 31 to hold the ring gear from rotation. The same movement leaves the teeth 42 in engagement with the teeth 43 so that the planetgear mounting is v fixed for rotation with the driven shaft 7.

With the parts so connected' rotation of the shaft 6 will effect the lanetation of the planet gears 28 about the interior of the ring gear, thus drivin the planet gear mountin and the connected driven shaft at lo'w s ee High Speed is secured by movement o the lever` 5l to the right (of the figure) so as to engage the clutch members 42 with the clutch members 44, without disengaging from the clutch members 43, that is to say, so that the planet gear mounting and ring gear casing are connected together for rotation with the driven shaft 7. In this position the teeth 33 are close to but not engaging with the teeth 32. With the ring ar casing and planet gear mounting locke together, the planet gears cannot rotate and rotation of the shaft 6 effects a turning of the entire mechanism as a single unit in the direction of the arrowthat is at engine speed in a forward direction. v

To reverse .the direction 'of the. driven shaft 7 the lever 51 is pulled to its extreme position to the right (of thesfigure). This engages clutch members 33 with clutch members 32 thus preventing the -rotation of the planet gear mounting, and frees clutch members 42 from clutch members 43, engaging them with clutch members 44, so ,that the ring'gear casing is now connected for rotation with the driven shaft. In this position of arts the planet gears do not function as suc but as jacksha t gears, driving the ring gear in a direction opposite to the direction ofthe centergear 8.

It will be noticed that the operative gears are always in mesh and for this reason and because of the character of gears used, that .is to Say, ring, center and intermediate gears,

the operation of the mechanism is very quiet. i I contemplate the use of the above described transmission either as an independent unit in cars in which twoy speeds and reverse is a suitabletransmission, or as an adjunct tothe transmission explained in my above-mentioned co riding application. When s o used it provides not only a reversing gear for such mechanism but also an additional .low speed so that by the use of the two devices, six forward speeds and three speeds in' reverse are secured.

I claim:

1. A transmission System comprisinga driving and a driven shaft, a center gear fixed for rotation with said driving shaft, a ring gear journaled concentric with said driven shaft, a gear mounting journaled concentric with said driven shaft, a planet gear journaled on said mounting and in mesh with said ring and center gears, a fxedelement, a sleeve slidably non-rotat ably engaged withl said fixed element and optionally engageable with said ring gear or said gear mounting, a sleeve slidably engaged with said driven shaft for rotation therewith and optionally engageable with either or both said gear mounting and ring gear, and means for moving said sleeves.

2. A transmission system comprising la driving and a driven shaft, a center gear fixed for rotation with said driving shaft, a ring gear journaled concentric withsaid driven shaft, a gear mounting journaled concentric with said driven shaft, a planet gear journaled on said mounting and in mesh with said ring and center gears, a fixed element, a sleeve slidably non-rotatably enlocking both gear mounting and ring'gearAv gaged with said fixed element and engageable 4With said ring gear and said gear mounting, a sleeve slidably engaged with' said driven shaft for rotation therewith and engageable with said gear mounting and said ring gear, and unitary means for selectively shifting said sleeves toy effect the following combinations: low speed; locking of said ring gear to said fixed element and said gear mounting to said drivenshaft; neutral; locking said gear mountinggto said driven shaftl and freeing the ring gear; high speed;

to said driven shaft; reverse; locking. saidgear mounting to said fixed element and said ring gear to said driven sha-ft.

3.- A transmission system comprising a' driving and a driven` shaft, a center ear fixed for rotation with said driving sha t, a

ring gear journaled concentric with said driven shaft a gear mounting journaled concentric With said driven shaft, a planet gear pressed pin and notchmeans for retaining the rod in position, and a lever for moving said rod.

4. A transmission system comprising a housing, a driving and a driven. shaft journaled in said housing, a center gear fixed for rotation with said driving shaft, a ring gear, a casing on which said ring gear is mounted journaled in said housing on both sides of said center gear, a planet gear in vmesh with said center and ring gears, a frame for mounting said planet gear journaled in said casing on both sides of said center gear, means for locking eitherv said casing or said frame to said housing, and means for locking either or both said casing or said frame to said driven shaft.

5. A transmission system comprising a housing, a driving and a driven shaft journaled in said housing, a center gear fixed for rotation with said driving shaft, a ring gear, a casing on which said ring vgear is mounted journaled in said housing on bot-h sides of said center gear, a planet gear in mesh with said center and ring gears, a frame for mounting said planet gear journaled in said casing on both sides of said center gear, clutch members on both sides of said casing and said frame, a sleeve slidably non-rotatably engaged With said housing, clutch members on said sleeve engageable with said casing and frame clutch members on one side, a second sleeve slidably engagedwith said driven shaft for rotation'therewith, clutch members on said second sleeve engageable with said casing and frame clutch members on the opposite side, and means for moving the said sleeves.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y CHARLES STARR. 

